Five rangers and their driver are found murdered at the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an official said.

The group was murdered in an ambush by suspected rebels operating in the park, police reaffirms.

Virunga boasts Africa’s most diverse wildlife habitat and is home to endangered mountain gorillas.

Some of Congo’s armed groups are also based in the park, where they often poach animals.

Virunga is home to about a quarter of the world’s remaining 880 mountain gorillas, as well as lions, elephants and hippos.

More than 130 park rangers have been killed in the park since 1996.